Popup Camper Conversion To Toyhauler

[jejeosborne]

I have been planning on doing this for quite awhile and finally found time to start and almost finish this week. I still have to swap my 3500 lb axle and tires out to 5200 lb axles. Here is the before to current progress photos.

 

[jlsmith]

Nice job, been thinking about doing something like that myself.

 

[MikeA57]

Great job on a very cool project. I've got a popup camper and I'd love to do that to mine as well but I'm probably going to sell it though. My wife had a bad experience on our last trip and I can't get her in it anymore. Keep us posted on the progress! I want to see the finished version!

Mike

 

[jejeosborne]

Here are some pics of it painted. Even one with it attached to my tractor to keep it tractor friendly.

 

[MotorSeven]

Nice job!

 

[jejeosborne]

The results are in!
Not as bad as I had expected in some respect. I weighed it with only two motorcycles instead of three because I didn't want to push my luck not knowing what I had. I do not have the battery installed but I will be putting it on the back bumper. Also I will only be running with one propane tank when I have a motorcycle on because of the footpeg clearance needed. I included a screen shot of my weights as compared to stock values. When I weighed the stock trailer, it included a full tank of water and 3 bicycles hanging off the back bumper so it isn't exactly apples to apples because I had neither of those today.

Results:
Total 4260 lbs
Tongue 980 lbs
Axle 3280 lbs

I took my jacks and jacked from the first spring perch simulating moving the axle forward exactly one foot. This made the tongue weight 760 lbs. Don't know if I am going to move it yet.

Picks for your pleasure:


Jeff

 

[caver]

Have you tried towing it loaded yet?

 

[MotorSeven]

Yes, your tongue weight is twice what it should be...I think the axle move is in order.........

Oh, and you could re-route the propane lines to the rear and build a cage for them there.

 

[jejeosborne]

Have you tried towing it loaded yet?

I towed it to the scales about 5 miles each way. Did fine. Took it slow until I upgrade my tires.

 

[jejeosborne]

Yes, your tongue weight is twice what it should be...I think the axle move is in order.........

Oh, and you could re-route the propane lines to the rear and build a cage for them there.

My tongue weight is 16% of total without the 550 lbs of motorcycles on it. Without the cycles the total is 3710 and the tongue is 580. I agree I am going to try to move the axle forward as much as possible. I would like to see about 150-200 lbs less on the tongue.

 

[MotorSeven]

My tongue weight is 16% of total without the 550 lbs of motorcycles on it. Without the cycles the total is 3710 and the tongue is 580. I agree I am going to try to move the axle forward as much as possible. I would like to see about 150-200 lbs less on the tongue.

Yes, looks like your on top of things and good call on moving it. Improper hitch weight is not something to play with. I pulled a 5x8 open utility behind my CJ7 for 5 years, never had a problem...... until one day back in the 80's. I used to build fences and decks as a second job and always pulled that trailer with various loads on it. One day I loaded 22 - 80lb bags of sacrete and 20 4x4x8's and got the COG wrong. When I hit 55 mph on I95 it started to swing. Now I know all about that swing as I had experienced it a few times at much lower speeds(bigger trailer and much bigger loads). This time it was immediate and violent, the tail wagged the dog and we flipped doing a 3/4 roll then hitting a metal light pole wheels first. Neither one of us got hurt(lucky).....well pride took a big whack. Ever since then I have been extremely wary of loads and their placement on trailers.

Oh, and one more odd bit of info about that incident. I had a Golden and back then and he was 4. He always went with me unless I was dressed for work, and would patiently wait at the door, first out and right into the jeep. That day, the one and only day of his 13+ year life, he refused to go. I stood there with the door open and even called him.....nope not budging. I can't explain it, but he knew...it was not a coincidence.

So, moral of the long winded story.....fix the trailer COG, or buy a Golden:laughing:

 

[jejeosborne]

Yes, looks like your on top of things and good call on moving it. Improper hitch weight is not something to play with. I pulled a 5x8 open utility behind my CJ7 for 5 years, never had a problem...... until one day back in the 80's. I used to build fences and decks as a second job and always pulled that trailer with various loads on it. One day I loaded 22 - 80lb bags of sacrete and 20 4x4x8's and got the COG wrong. When I hit 55 mph on I95 it started to swing. Now I know all about that swing as I had experienced it a few times at much lower speeds(bigger trailer and much bigger loads). This time it was immediate and violent, the tail wagged the dog and we flipped doing a 3/4 roll then hitting a metal light pole wheels first. Neither one of us got hurt(lucky).....well pride took a big whack. Ever since then I have been extremely wary of loads and their placement on trailers.

Oh, and one more odd bit of info about that incident. I had a Golden and back then and he was 4. He always went with me unless I was dressed for work, and would patiently wait at the door, first out and right into the jeep. That day, the one and only day of his 13+ year life, he refused to go. I stood there with the door open and even called him.....nope not budging. I can't explain it, but he knew...it was not a coincidence.

So, moral of the long winded story.....fix the trailer COG, or buy a Golden:laughing:

Good story. You obviously had too little tongue weight to cause sway. I should not have that problem. My problem will be payload related on the tow vehicle. I have an 1800 lb payload capacity that I don't want to exceed. This tongue weight would prevent me from hauling anything in my truck bed. Here are pics of my tow capabilities. 2011 f150 ecoboost screw.

 

[jejeosborne]

Well I have finally finished this project. I added a second 3500 lb axle directly in front of the existing one. Taking it out this weekend loaded down. Going to weigh it Sunday if I have time.

 

[MotorSeven]

Outstanding!

Now where are we going to go ride??

 

[jejeosborne]

Outstanding!

Now where are we going to go ride??

This weekend we will be at little Egypt riding area in southern Illinois. I will be taking three bikes on the camper and a 4 wheeler in the bed. Madden voyage so hopefully nothing brakes.

 

[jejeosborne]

I just returned home from the first trip with the camper. Traveled about 4 hours hitting speeds up to 70 mph. Towed great and it was tested on some pretty rough roads and bumps in a construction zone. I now feel good about the setup. I also was able to get to the scales before unloading. Total weight was 5020 with 4040 on the axles and 980 on the tongue. This was with 3 motorcycles on the trailer and trailer packed with all gear, food, cooler, etc.
I also weighed with the weight distribution hooked up and it added 140 lbs to that 4040 axle weight. Thought that would interest some.